Having worked with owners of print and graphic communications companies for the past 20 years, I can tell you unequivocally that there is a seasonality to attracting M&A candidates. Emotional considerations, often driven by family dynamics, are at the heart of this dynamic.
I was reminded of this reality on the Friday morning after Thanksgiving, having received an e mail message from a client at 1 AM on Thanksgiving. He was politely nudging me that we needed to move ahead on work related to long term planning for a sale of his business.
Many NAPL member-clients know that January is one of two "prime time" seasons for launching proactive M&A outreach. The "January effect" is well known in the health club industry, as folks come back from holidays ready to lose weight and get in shape. For some owners, they get fired up to "do something" based on personal considerations that were vetted out at family gatherings during the holiday season.
NAPL associate consultant Kathleen Appleton and I are busily preparing M&A outreach campaigns for various NAPL client-members, and, if you happen to receive one of our letters in early 2010, you can think back to this blog post as a "heads up" that the owner we are working with is thinking seriously about acquisition, merger, or sale.
Comments